In search of perfect mannequin.

 I am not that talented to draw without preparation, like so many other gifted artist. I need a sketch.

 

Point of this li'l "research" is to find good method for building a pose. Method which will be useful to mundane pose or bending character body in some creative "pretzel", from thin body type to rotund.

 

Also big challenge is to draw in small comic panel, in which you can't draw whole body. Method should be universal. Sometimes you won't have luxury of space to draw all limbs and their relations.

Each way I am going do describe here has it's own pluses and minuses... Sometimes gives me the feeling that there is no best way to draw initial "mannequin".

 

1. Seen this way used by one Youtube artist.

Very strick. Easy to "build" on paper... But all usefulness shatters as soon as you need to turn character's torso.

 

2. Here is another one with big potential. Truncated cone, balancing on ellipsoid.

Great way to establish body position, direction of spine. Minus of this method - it's easy to make mistake in shoulders. Of course, you can add another ellipsoid over the cone, but you won't be able to position arms before that.

3. How about this classic one. Three balls and bones.

You are technically will draw simplified skeleton. Just add "meat" as much as you needed. Minus here is quite obvious. You sketch will become a mess. Not a problem if you are light table user or digital artist... still too many additional steps.

Also there will be troubles with foreshortening.

 

4. This is personal "invention" - "dumbbell method"

Main idea behind this was "what is human body if not head, torso and attachments." One ball is vague position of head, second ball is vague position of torso's end and line is direction of spine.

Take a note: came from placing spine direction first philosophy as many art teachers suggest. And here is lays main problem - necessity to draw whole body. Also not a great method for spontaneous, gesture drawing.

That's it for now. I have few more ideas, but need to formulate it before writing down.